HADEWA CALIPHATE,

NIGERIA.

Aria could tell at first glance why and where Hudayya took her too. If she didn't realize it quickly, the bows flying around the arena certainly did.

Archery.

Apparently, it's what Hudayya does to cool off some steam. In her words, "Since I can't actually kill the person, I aim for bullseye and pretend like it's the person. It's my form of relieving stress"

The secluded part they went to was empty, and the only person that Aria saw was Hudayya's instructor from whom she retrieved two bows, arrows, and everything else they would need. Once they had gotten it, Hudayya lead them to the range where they took their respective spots.

As weird as it seems, Aria used to play archery back then. It has been long though, but she's sure she is still as good as before.

A part of her thought of what Hudayya's reaction would be to that she can actually play, because she assumed the girl would think otherwise. However, as she put on her gloves and picked up the recurve bow, Hudayya didn't react and she was glad the girl didn't notice the expression on her face.

A lump form in her throat but she pushed it back and blinked, tightening her grip on the bow handle. She placed the arrow on the bow, testing it.

Hudayya simply glanced at her when the woman didn't realize it. A small, barely visible smile forming on her lips before she turned around and did the same. However, unlike Aria, once she had gotten in her stance, she extended the arrow, and drew it. Once she had gotten her aim, she released.

A couple of second later, Aria's arrow went flying through the air and onto her target.

A grin took over Hudayya's features as Aria picked up her second arrow, then the third; both arrows hitting the target. "You're a natural" She commented, taking her second arrow.

Aria didn't look away from her target as she picked up another arrow, and nocked it. "Years of practice pays off I guess" She knew saying she's a natural would be a lie, she trained hard to learn it. Or at least, was forced to learn it. "You?"

Hudayya's grin widened, "Something like that"

No words were exchanged between the two women for the next couple of minutes, both immersed in hitting their targets. At a point, Hudayya took a break on one of the chairs situated a couple of feet behind where they stood while Aria continued.

Hudayya didn't miss how Aria shot her arrows; constantly, one after another with a ferocity that spoke volumes of the words she did not utter. At the moment, Hudayya could see the fed up anger Aria had in her which she hadn't uttered one bit.

It came to a point where she decided to speak up, "Was our first meeting really coincidental?" She asked, making Aria stop her movement. Hudayya had been meaning to ask that question since she found out her brother's relationship with the girl.

Aria turned around to look at Hudayya, her hands coming down as she heaved slightly. Her eyes took over the woman's features clearly, to spot any trace of lark. And despite the fact that there was a smile on her face, Aria could see anything but lark across her features. "Yes. Why'd you ask?"

Hudayya snickered slightly, reaching her hand out to pick a water bottle she brought with her. "I just find it odd that the woman I met on that fateful got married to my brother out of the blue" She took a gulp from the water bottle; before bringing it down. "But I find it weirder that of all people, it's you"

"Couldn't that have been a coincidence?"

"With you?" Hudayya rose a brow, her eyes never once leaving Aria's. For some odd reason, Aria didn't feel that feeling she always felt when Hudayya spoke like that. She didn't feel like there's no harm regarding her. If anything, it felt as though she could see right through her. And she is the first person to make her feel that way since she stepped into the palace as Aali's wife. "Never"

Aria's shoulder tensed slightly at the woman's words and her 'I couldn't care less' façade which was a huge contrast to theone she's currently spotting. Truth be told, she's finding it hard to decipher what exactly, or more less, where exactly Hudayya belongs.

An enemy, or an ally?

It's clear as day she isn't buying Aria's charade, and she wasn't trying to show her otherwise. "Well," Aria placed the bow beside that of Hudayya's, "If you're so curious, I only approached you because your shoes looked familiar. I told you that before" She didn't see the need to hide the truth of that day.

Quite frankly, she understood the situation pretty well now.

And clearly, that was not what Hudayya expected, "That was what you said. That I remember"

"It looked like the ones your brother gave me before"

"You two have met before?"

Aria couldn't tell what exactly was the look behind Hudayya's expression.

The girl really is confusing.

"You didn't think we just got married out of the blue right?" It was her time to raise a brow. She was sure of one thing; her answer was not what Hudayya expected. Sensing that Hudayya was waiting for more explanation, she sighed. "Honestly Hudayya, I'd suggest kindly that you stop this interrogation" She dropped the friendly façade she had been putting on.

Hudayya shook her head, "It wasn't an interrogation"

"It sure feels like it" Aria didn't once break contact eye contact from her sister in law.

For the first time since Hudayya met Aria, she felt something she hadn't feel around her before. Intimidation. And she didn't need to think twice to know who she got it from. It was clear as day.

Honestly, she didn't know what to feel. Her emotions at the moment were conflicting.

"I'm sorry you felt that way" She didn't see harm in admitting that, though she knew she was kind of interrogating her. "It wasn't my intention"

Aria's lips stretched into a smile on borderline disbelief and sarcasm. It was clear she didn't believe Hudayya words. Nonetheless, she picked up her bow again, fixed an arrow, extended and then released it. Once the arrow met the target, her smile stretched into a smirk, "Bullseye" She glanced at Hudayya.

"You're good at this"

"I learnt from the best"

"Clearly"

And just like that, the cold air between the two dissipated as the topic was pushed aside.

~*~

Aria went back home alone, after Hudayya made sure she knew the correct route. She wanted to bring her back home, considering she was the one that brought her out in the first place but for some reason, the girl suddenly seemed...restless.

Aria recognized the look the minute it flashed on the girl's face, so without much of a word, she told her that they can go their separate ways since clearly, there's something Hudayya wants to do alone.

Besides, Aria wanted to return back to the palace and rest too. She has faced enough issues in a day and all she wanted to do was go back home and rant about it to Maya or Abu. But as it so happens, she and her sister are both married and since Maya and Muneer don't live in the palace, she can't see her as she so pleases.

She had spoken to Abu and Maa in the morning before Salaha came, and she's sure they won't like her calling them again that same day since she just got 'married'. They made it sound as though she and Aali are happily in love and married.

She certain of one thing, the two know there's a bigger reason why she suddenly agreed to the marriage with Aali, they just weren't planning on intervening. They both know she isn't their little daughter anymore; she can take care of herself pretty well.

Yet they know she's still an amanah to them. So, they won't hesitate to step in and help her when so ever she desires.

Stepping out of Aali's car, she headed into the chambers after briefly glancing at Amadu who she was still suspicious of whether he followed her or not. She could swear she had that nagging feeling that she was being watched while she was with Hudayya, but she dismissed it, too exhausted to care.

With a salam, she reached her hand out and removed the veil covering her hair before her shoulders slumped. She didn't realize how exhausted she was until she was finally back in the confines of her new home.

"Let me guess, exhausted?" A voice came, startling her a bit.

She turned around, only to be met with the sight of Aali stepping out of the kitchen with a bottle of water in his hand. She didn't even realize that it was about time he returned. "Exhausted won't even cut it" She shook her head, "How was the trip?"

Aali shrugged, "The same as every other time" He reached where she stood, extending his hand out, "Water?"

"Thank you" She took the bottle from him, then made her way over to the living room where he followed her.

"You should eat. I doubt Hudayya took you somewhere to eat other than a junk store" He knew his sister well, that girl doesn't eat. She lives off on snacks and junk food, especially since she lives alone with no one to make her eat real food.

Aria scoffed slightly. She hasn't eaten anything aside from the breakfast she had earlier before his mother dragged her away. "I'll eat later" She discarded the abayah, leaving the top and jeans she had on earlier. Taking a sit on one of the couches, she rested her head back; her eyes flickering close.

She felt the side dip as he sat beside her. And seconds later, she felt his handson her shoulder making her snap her eyes at him, "What are you doing?" She narrowed her eyes, silently warning him to not try anything funny with her.

"Relax. Just trust me for once, will you?"

She rose a brow, silently asking him if he really just said that. "I don't trust you" She doesn't see the need to hide it.

Instead of being offended, he simply smiled, a little too smug for her liking. "You will soon" He pulled her closer to him, and she didn't protest when he rested her head on his lap and began to massage her sore shoulders.

She wouldn't admit it in a thousand years, but that really did help with the exhaustion. Peeking her eyes open, she slightly narrowed her eyes at him, "This doesn't mean anything Mr. Aali"

Aali chuckled, "I know Mrs. Aali. Now calm down and rest. You need it"

~*~

"What happened?"

"I followed them, but I made sure they didn't notice"

Aali nodded at Amadu's words. The two were in the living room while Aria is sleeping sounding in their room. He knows she would talk his ear off about how she ended up in the bed when she slept on the couch but that is a problem he'll deal with later. "You said she was with Mama, right?"

Amadu nodded.

For an odd reason, that made him restless. "What happened?"

"The Queen invited her for a meeting, and things didn't end well"

Aali sighed. He knew something like that would happen, and he couldn't stop it. He nodded slowly, "Aria would handle it well, I'm sure she would" If there's one thing he completely has is his unwavering confidence in his wife.

He knew he doesn't have to step in, the woman can take care of herself just well when it comes to that.

"There's one thing though"

That made Aali snap his gaze to Amadu, "What is it?"

Amadu released a long sigh, "Another dead body was found earlier and because of it, Umar called a council meeting without the knowledge of the Calipha"

Aali's brows drew in, "He wants to turn the tables around on Baba" He stated lowly, "Something would happen soon. I can feel it" He fixated his gaze on the wall he's facing, his hands intertwined.

"What should we do then, Your Highness?"

Aali moved his gaze from the wall to his guard, "Call the Pentagon"